Keep Calm and Carry on, or should we be panicking? Is it really the end of Contracting within the Public Sector?
A guest post by Lee James So yesterday (23rd November 2016) was Philip Hammond's first ever Autumn statement. And just like his predecessor in his last Budget statement, there was no mention of IR35...
What is covered under a patient’s private medical insurance policy?
It is dangerous for a private insured patient to assume his/her insurance covers everything. Very often it does not and this impacts on the consultant surgeon. Private medical insurance may be said...
Where does a surgeon find medical coding anyway
Another question asked at the recent Medical Defence Union presentation. Insurance companies use medical coding to identify and detail a medical procedure. For example: if you are an...
No Charge – Courtesy – but to whom??
Sometimes a private consultant surgeon may decide he or she does not actually wish to charge the patient. There are numerous reasons for taking such a position; all equally valid. For...
The Insurance Company declined £160 but were WRONG
One of my Orthopaedic surgeons saw a patient in clinic last week for a follow-up consultation. The follow-up was after the surgical episode which took place about three weeks earlier....
Cash flow blues
I like blues music. I like Robert Johnson for example. And I like cash (including Johnny) What I don’t like is the expression “cash flow” Because cash does not flow. Cash has to be managed....
How does a patient find a suitable Private Medical Professional
Since private medical insurance first began, the number one route by a patient to a consultant surgeon has been the patient’s GP. Most time the patient will follow the GP recommendation but...
Why won’t the patients just pay their excess?
Ever considered what is the most often quoted reason for non-payment by a patient of their excess to the consultant surgeon? The same reason is quoted over and over again. It's not "I haven’t...
Time – use it wisely
It never ceases to bewilder me how many consultant surgeons don't use time efficiently. Let me give you a real example from the fist week of November when MHM was contacted by a consultant...
No pre-authorisation is in place!
An MHM client had this problem recently and this is what I advised. In by far the majority of cases, your patient will obtain authorisation for an initial consultation. But sometimes, the patient...
Loosing all track of time (and money)
Recently I helped a medical secretary understand the noble art of medical invoicing. Having your medical secretary handling medical invoicing isn't something I'd recommend though for a number...
We will remember them
November 11th, 2016 - whatever country, race, colour or creed - we will remember them. They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the...